Propeller



D. E. MEEHAN PROPELLER Oct. 17, 1944.

Filed Nov. 30, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 VQ Z/d 77 INVENToR.

Oat.'- v17, 1944. D. MEEHAN PROPELLER Filed Nov. so, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2 @-7 ATT'DRNEYE Patented Oct. 17, 1944 Y UNITED STATES- PATYENT oFFlcE Donald E. Mrehigalhkington, D. C.

Application November so, 1942, serial-No. 461,381

(c1. 17o-16s) claim My invention relates yto propellers, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved variable pitch propeller so constructure and portions of the two blades associated therewith. y

Figure 2 is a side view partly in section. Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 8 3 of 'Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a face viw of a crank arm.

In the embodiment of the invention. selected for illustration, I make use of a, power driven shaft I0 having a. nose or hub structure I2 attached to one end. The hub structure comprises a central body I4 having a tapered bore I6 for connection with the tapered end I8 of the shaft I0. A key xedly connects the end I8 with the body I4, and the end I8 is provided with a threaded part 22 for -connection with a nut 24 to additionally secure the body to the shaft. An oval shaped ring 26 is arranged insidean annular member 28 having a nose or cap end 30. The member 26 is xed to thel member 28, as by welded connections-32. Arms 34 flxedly connect the body I4 with the member 26, and the body I4 and the two members 26 and 28 lie vin a' common plane transversely of the axis of the shaft I0.

The propeller blades 36 are provided with Shanks 38 having tapered ends 40 rotatably guided in tapered openings 42 in the member 28.

Tapered openings 44 are provided in the mem-- ber 26 coaxially of the openings 42 for rotatably n guiding tapered nuts 46 threadedly connectedI tend through the ends 5I) to hold the arms 52 on the ends.

Turnbuckles 62 are pivotally connected with the outer ends of the crank arms 52 and with pins threaded into a sleeve 66 mounted on the shaft I0. The turnbuckles 62 parallel the'shaft Ill and are spaced 180 degrees apart. The pins 64 are threaded into4 shoulders 68 formed on a iiange I0 located intermediate the ends of'the sleeve 66.

In Figures 4 and 5, the shaft I0 is provided with longitudinal grooves 12 for slidably guiding ribs 14 arranged longitudinally and radially inside the sleeve 66, so that the sleeve may be shifted longitudinally of the shaft I0 but is keyed for rotation'therewith. Upon the sleeve 66 is mounted a bearing race 16 for coaction with tapered roller bearings, 'I8 engaging a face or bearing race 86 on one end of a collar 62. A nut 84 is threadedly connected with the sleeve 66 and is provided with a bearing race or face 86 coacting with tapered roller bearings 88 engaging a second bearing race or face 90 at the other end of the collar 82. race 16 lies against the flange 10, and the nut 64 permits precise adjustment of the bearing assembly.

either direction through the medium 'of a drive shaft rotating in one direction only.

The crank arms 52 are so arranged that the blades 36 are simultaneously rotated in opposite directions. 'I'hus thepitch of the propeller as well as the direction of its screw action may be changed through manipulation of the sleeve 66 longitudinally of the drive shaft III.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention, that others may,

by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. In propeller mechanism, a shaft, -a'hub xed on the shaft, an outer ring mounted concentrically about the hub, an inner ring iixed within said outer ring and connected with the hub, said inner ring being disposed so that'op- The' posed parts thereof are provided with openings andY are spaced inwardly of diametrically opposed openings in the outer ring, the openings in the outer ring having an increasing taper radially outward thereof and the openings in the inner ring having a taper increasing'inwardly thereof,

a propeller-blade having a reduced inner shank portion extended through the complementary openingsin the respective rings, said blade extendingradially of the shaft and having a tapered shoulder at, the outer end of the vshank conforming to and iitting the opening in the axis contiguous with and xed within the outer ring and its minor axis spaced substantially inf ward of diametrically opposed points of the outer' ring. l

3. Propeller mechanism as claimed in claim 1 including a sleeve splined on the shaft, a. pair l of pivot elements carried on said sleeve. a radially disposed arm splined on the inner end of each blade shank, and a longitudinally adjustable member connecting the outer end of each arm l 'with the respective pivot elements on the sleeve r for turning the blades upon axial adjustment of said sleeve on the shaft.

4. Propeller mechanism as claimed'in claim 1 including a sleeve splined on the shaft, a pair of lo pivot elements carried on said sleeve, a radially disposed arm splined on the inner end oi' each blade shank, a longitudinally adjustable member connecting the outer end of each arm with the respective pivot elements on the sleeve for, turn- 15 ing the blades upon axial adjustment of said 'sleeve onthe shaft, co-actingbearing race elements mounted clrcumferentially on the sleeve having beveled bearing faces, a collar having beveled end faces mounted about the sleeve in 20 cil-acting relation with the races, roller bearings mounted between the beveled faces of the collar and the races, and an actuating member pivotally lconnected with the collar for shifting the sleeve axially on the shaft.

4 DoNALD E. MEEHAN. 

